Apologies if this has been asked before, but I have not found a solution by reading or searching the forums.

I have seen some people quite severely (rightly) criticised for mentioning their participation in illegal or drug related activities. But, what about those people (like myself) who don't live in America? The law where I live is sometimes surprisingly different, also the laws in the places I travel to. Which law 'wins out' on the forum?

Also, is there a 'common sense filter' regarding mentioning activities that may be technically illegal (or legal) but commonly ignored, or just plain stupid?

This question is most appropriate in the "Questions Concerning The Church of Satan" forum. But, since it is here...

If someone is intelligent enough to be a Satanist, there is no reason they would need to question why the Church of Satan makes a public stand against drug abuse and illegal activities.

If someone needs to ask Can I be a Satanist and (fill in the blank), they either are not a Satanist, but a sheep; or, to be charitable, they have a lot more study to do.

There is no asking about what one does with his or her own life. Responsibility to the responsible. But, if one wishes to affiliate with The Church of Satan, there ARE standards. The minimum standard is not to be stupid. Breaking the law is stupid. Recreational drug use is stupid. Announcing to the world you do such things is stupid.

I have not been on the board very long, but I have read quite a few old threads, and that is probably one of the most frequently asked questions, worthy of some "Satanism FAQ". Besides drugs being illegal, and I will use pot as an example (As it is quite prominent where I live) why would you want to use something that makes you lazy, unproductive, and clouds rational thinking? The same debate could be used for alcohol, and I agree there, too! What is the point really of spending 200 dollars, hard earned, to get "Shitfaced", and spend the rest of your night, bowing at the porcelain temple, slurring to your friend about "how I reeally wanna bang your sister" ? To have a drink, and enjoy oneself is okay...why is that better then drugs? Because that, at least, is legal.

This post is very general of course, and I don't want anyone to feel it is directed at them in any way, including the creator of the topic, I just find it interesting how unclear this still seems to many OTHER people who have posted here.

It never ceases to amaze me the number of people who come here trying to argue that pot is okay, I mean, it's practically legal isn't it? Everyone does it!

No, it's not, and no they don't. And even if it was, I've met too many people whose synapses no longer work because they fried them on weed to ever recommend it as an indulgence of choice.

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All Hail Satan, for I shall ever be his mouth in this blessed and righteous Kingdom of the United!

"Don't you see? If the gays can get married then the whole institution of marriage will be destroyed! Society will crumble! Rivers will run red with blood! And Nazis will walk the earth riding dinosaurs!" Princess Clara, the unsung voice of the Christian right.

For them it is not an indulgence, and never has been. They do it everyday, and go out of their ways to obtain it when it runs out...even if they are broke and have to do questionable things to get the money for it.

For them it is not an indulgence, and never has been. They do it everyday, and go out of their ways to obtain it when it runs out...even if they are broke and have to do questionable things to get the money for it.

Exactly. The amount of energy they put into defending it suggests compulsion, not indulgence. If it is something casual to them, why waste so much energy defending it when the site is full of examples of people getting banned for advocating it.

To me that's the best counter-argument to any claim that it's not addictive and does not affect your intelligence.

I too have seen a number of my friends go down the road you describe, always having a very good justification. Obviously we drifted apart, but I still suspect that they are living in the same squalid apartments with no jobs using their so-called expanded consciousness staring into space accomplishing nothing.

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While having never invented a sin, I'm trying to perfect several.

I've met too many people whose synapses no longer work because they fried them on weed to ever recommend it as an indulgence of choice.

Just to emphasise this point, I regularly get exactly the same conversation over and over again from a guy at work - a former heavy canabis user, who has suffered 'no ill effects' from his previous indulgence...

And alcohol should be treated with greater care than it is (certainly in Britain). One of the things I love about Thailand is the lack of drunken thugs (although I have seen them here).